Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy's own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
I am a woman in my mid-40s who six weeks ago was diagnosed with cancer. I have worked in educational professional services for 14 years in a range of mid- to senior-level roles. I left a full-time permanent role four years ago to work as a contractor, and fortunately my skills and experience have kept me employed consistently.
With the cancer diagnosis – days after my latest contract ended – this has changed. My previous employers do not know about my diagnosis; the contract ended very positively at its predetermined end of the funding period and managers said they hoped to bring me back if funding allows. However, I would like instead to focus on returning to full-time, permanent employment when my health allows.
I currently face several months of cancer treatment. When I'm able to return to work, are there any practical approaches to re-entering the workplace? Should I present my illness as the cause of my work gap in the application, covering letter and CV? How should I broach the subject in interviews? I would like the opportunity to assure employers that my treatment has finished and I am well, but I don't want to fuss about it either.
While I feel I must disclose my illness, I worry that as I am already middle-aged it will be a mark against me in the recruitment process. I have been keeping my skills up to date. Is there anything else I can do in the meantime to assuage future employers' fears that I am too old and too sick?
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy's and readers' help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
